Sunday morning 7025 CW Net

Held every Sunday since 11 March 1973 (thanks Col VK4CU-SK), the CW Net provides operators with the chance to make new contacts and catch up with old friends. The net is managed by a controller who pairs up stations and allocates them to a frequency. Stations may chat as long as they like and make as many contacts as they wish during the two hours. This net has been going strong since 1973 (43 years) with over 2,000 weekly sessions.

Please try to keep QSOs to 15 minutes or less and report back QNX if leaving so net control will know your frequency is available for reassignment to other net participants. Multiple check-ins (QNI) are encouraged, have as many QSO as you like. Always remember to check your assigned frequency by listening and QRL? before transmitting.

If you are available once a month or so for net controlling duties, please inform one of our current net controllers. Provision can then be made to slot you into the roster at convenient times. Net controlling is a good skill to learn and encourages fellowship between your CW friends.

CW Check-in Nets

ALL WELCOME to check-in, usually there are one or more net controllers. QNI means please check in (call in) with your callsign.

Net controller (also known as QNN) will acknowledge check-ins and then call you when it is your turn.

After that, just follow your nose, it will become clear as there is a net controller to help you and all others. It's a great way to keep in touch with other VK CW stations, with a simple check in and then optional to stay longer or even have QSO after the short formal part of the net closes (QNF means the net is now closed, free for all).

When it is your turn you will be called by Net Control, now you can ask for check-out by sending "QNX", or check out immediately with "QNO". If you would like a QSO with any other station in the net, send QSO CALLSIGN (of the station you want to QSO) and Net Control will let you QSO after closing the check-in net and after any messages have been passed, or assign you both a frequency to QSY to.

Other optional codes you can use are listed below. Signal reports are not usually exchanged in the first part of the net to keep it short, or just Q1 = Unreadable, Q2 = Readable at times, Q3 = Readable with Difficulty, Q4 = Good Readable, Q5 = Very strong.

The following Q codes may be useful in these nets but don't be intimidated, you can keep the list handy or send "?" if you don't understand and net control will give you plain text. The format of these check-in nets is first to take check-ins, then give each station a turn number (QRY) for a short transmission during which you can use e.g. QRU, QSO, QTC (see codes below) or just a signal report. Checking into these nets is as easy as sending your callsign once when net control sends QNI K or QNI PSE K

QNC - Message to All on the Net
QND - This Net is directed, follow instructions
QNE - Entire Net please stand by (wait)
QNF - Net is now closed, free for all
QNG - Please take over net control
QNG1 - Please make one "CQ CW Net DE YourCallsign" call in case others cannot hear the main net control
QNG2 - as above but please call twice if no answer etc.
QNI - Please check ins call now, or "I am checking in"
QNM - You are causing interference please standby
QNN? Who is the net controller? (if no answer within 3 minutes of net start time, by all means, take control of the net)
QNN - Net Control station is …
QNO - I am checking out now
QNP - Cannot hear station…
QNS - List of stations who have checked in is: …
QNT n - I will be back in 'n' minutes
QNX - Permission to check out
QNX? - May I check out please?
QNZ - please zero beat with net control (come onto frequency, one more stations are off frequency)

QRU - I have nothing for you (no news, no messages)
QSO - Requesting QSO with … (callsign)
QSR - Please repeat your call on the calling frequency, I did not hear you
QSU - I am listening here AND on … kHz
QTC - I have a message for … (callsign)
QTC? - I would like to practice formal message exchanges after the net
QTX - I am monitoring this frequency until further notice

Optional themes (for the net and afterwards):

Mondays: You may like to use an older rig than your usual one, or your oldest rig, or one you don't normally use,Tuesdays: QRS slow speed and/or straight keys, please keep speed down to allow slower operators to participate,Wednesdays: get out that bug key, or side swiper, and sloppy or defective CW will not be frowned upon, let's hear it,Thursdays: QRQ high speed, go as fast as conditions allow, including your own ability, push it beyond your limit,Fridays: QRP reduce your power from your normal level, even if half power, or really QRP, try, you may be surprised!

The above are optional themes for each net night, but very much encouraged, so that all types of operators find an evening they can participate in, or try different things from the usual routine!

Col's CW Net

Every Sat & Sun at 3.15pm (0415 UTC) on 7115kHz, Net is run by Alex VK2ICL

FISTS FEA CW Net

All VK CW operators are most welcome to check in to the FISTS East Asia CW Net on Sundays at 0800UTC on or around 14054kHz depending on QRM.

The Gnarly Net

Seven days a week starting at 5am EST on 3599 KHz CW then switches to LSB at 0630 EST on 3600 KHz. Net control is usually Rob, VK4ARQ in Ingham, North Qld with a variety of QRQ, QRS, ele keyers, bugs and straight keys as stations check in and out. Worth a try if you are an early riser!

0600Z 14349 CW Net

QNN (Net Control Stations): VK6RR, VK4QC, VK5EEE

Net starts after 3 minutes listening for urgent calls or QRP or DX stations calling in so you may not hear anything until 0603 UTC

This net is a chance for longer distance VK contacts as well as international contacts with Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania. Please check in (QNI) and wait your turn as directed by the QNN (Net Control Station). To request a QSO with a particular station send (QSO CALLSIGN), if you have formal messages send QTC. After formal net closes (QNF), it is free for all. A good chance to keep in touch with those further away!

Cross-mode and SSB contacts are also welcome but for SSB please be sure to use USB and ONLY on 14347.0kHz NOT 14349kHz so that (a) you will be heard and (b) you will not stray outside the legal band limit. SSB is generally encouraged to take place AFTER the formal CW net has closed (after Net Control sends "QNF"). If in doubt, just wait until it goes quiet :-) It's a chance to catch up with your CW friends who don't normally use SSB!

Any other CW Nets?

If you know of any CW Nets not mentioned above, or corrections required, please leave a comment below or contact us.

Schedule of CW Activities

For a listing in day/time order of all regular CW activities please see skeds and all are welcome to edit and keep that page updated. You may like to print it out. There are MANY Morse Code activities on a regular daily basis in Australia. If you are starved for activity, take a look at skeds page and join in whatever takes your fancy!